16 of China's centrally-managed State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) formed an association on August 18th, aimed at developing China's own electric cars.

The association, under direct control and guidance of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), will coordinate activities of companies along the upstream and downstream industrial chain and try to avoid overlapping efforts in developing China's electric autos.

The association aims to integrate technological standards and to help Chinese companies master key technologies in making electric vehicles.

Car manufacturers China FAW Group, the Dongfeng Motor and Chongqing Chang'an Automobile will join the association.

Oil companies including the China National Petroleum Corporation, the China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation will also join the association. These companies will help build recharging stations, according to a news report.

The report did not provide a complete list of all these companies invited to join but said battery and automotive major BYD was not included.